Continuous Commitment Needed for Pandemic Fund’s Success

Continuous commitment to the Pandemic Fund is key to filling the funding gap for pandemic prevention, preparation, and response. All parties must play their part.

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A health worker administers a Covid-19 test, a travel requirement, on Sunday (12/26/2021) at a Covid-19 testing facility in Beijing, China. Chinese airlines have canceled numerous flights under Beijing’s strict zero-Covid restrictions.

BADUNG, KOMPAS – The creation of the financial intermediary fund (FIF) for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR), or Pandemic Fund, is a promising start to increasing global preparedness for future pandemics. The fund was created to tackle funding inequities, especially as regards poor and developing countries. However, it can only be successful with continuous, shared commitment.

The World Bank and World Health Organization estimate that US$31.1 billion is needed each year for pandemic prevention, management, and response. Despite the various funding sources available, there is still a gap of $10.5 billion that needs to be addressed.

Priya Basu, executive director of the Pandemic Fund Secretariat at the World Bank, explained during a Group of 20 side event on Monday (11/14/2022) in Badung, Bali, that a total of $1.4 billion had been raised for the Pandemic Fund from 24 donors consisting of both G20 member and nonmembers, as well as international philanthropies. This figure was a good start to increasing the involvement of other stakeholders.

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“All countries must support the Pandemic Fund so the funds can be distributed faster. Currently, only $1.4 billion has been collected. We need more countries to raise larger funds,” said Basu.

Donor countries that have contributed to the Pandemic Fund include Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Philanthropic contributors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. Indonesia has contributed $50 million, or approximately Rp 740 billion.

According to Basu, poor and developing countries are priority recipients of the Pandemic Fund to strengthen their health systems, especially to improve vaccine access and access to other health facilities. This is important to ensure that other parts of the world are safe.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

Executive director Priya Basu of the Secretariat for the Pandemic Fund, hosted by the World Bank.

“No country will be safe from the pandemic if there are still countries that are unsafe from it. Hence, each country must have the political will and better investments,” said Basu.

Christoph Hermann Ben, director of global health diplomacy at the Joep Lange Institute, expressed his hope that many stakeholders would join the Pandemic Fund, which should not be limited to developed countries with high incomes, but also developing countries. Their involvement would generate a sense of ownership towards the Pandemic Fund.

“I estimate that $10 billion is a fair amount to meet global needs. However, currently only $1.4 billion has been collected, meaning much more funds will be needed. Therefore, commitment towards the Pandemic Fund must be sustained,” said Benn.

FRENKY T. WIJAYA

Indonesia Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin talks with United States Minister of Finance Janet Yellen, ahead of the launch of the Pandemic Fund or the Pandemic Fund at Mulia Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday (11/13/2022).

Commitment to the Pandemic Fund must be voiced at every meeting between G20 member countries. Building the massive funds needed was a challenge to support countries in the event of future pandemics.

Need for appreciation

Founder and CEO Diah S. Saminarsih of the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) said it should be recognized that the Pandemic Fund had been successfully set up during Indonesia’s G20 presidency amid a variety of adverse circumstances, such as geopolitical tensions, the energy and food crises, and the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic. This was only the start of the efforts to strengthen global health systems of the future.

Much work still needed to be done by the G20. The goal of resolving inequities in pandemic prevention, management, and response capacities could be achieved only with continued political commitment from each nation.

With public involvement, the fund could be used in an optimal and transparent manner.

“This Pandemic Fund was carried over from the Italian presidency to the [Indonesian presidency]. Moving forward, the Indian presidency must be stronger, followed by Brazil’s, because the current $1.4 billion collected is only 10 percent of the total needed,” Diah said.

She added that continued commitment was key to ensuring that the Pandemic Fund would have a significant impact. Indonesia also had a large role in voicing the interests of low-income nations so they might benefit more from the fund.

Diah believed that the public also had a role in monitoring the use of surplus resources from the Pandemic Fund. With public involvement, the fund could be used in an optimal and transparent manner.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati delivers her opening speech at the launch event for the financial intermediary fund (FIF) for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR), or Pandemic Fund, in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday (11/13/2022).

For this, there needed to be individual secretariats for the Pandemic Fund at the national level. A strong mechanism for international coordination, such as the established Country Coordinating Mechanism Global Fund, was important in ensuring harmonization and good coordination in choosing priorities.

“There needs to be a foundation of agreed principles and values, as well as a spirit of inclusion and equality, so that the fund will benefit and reach the countries and communities that need them,” said Diah.

This article was translated by Veeramalla Anjaiah